Payment device

ABSTRACT

A payment device including an input unit arranged to receive first data taken from a medium and identifying a user who will proceed with a payment for a purchase which he has made, the input unit being arranged to be connected to a first terminal intended to be placed at a point of sale, the first terminal having a data input intended to receive second data concerning the purchase, the first terminal arranged to communicate the first and second data to a second terminal intended to be placed with a financial body which will be responsible for making the payment on behalf of the user, the device also comprising a third terminal placed at a payment management center, the third terminal arranged to manage the communication between the first and second terminals, the third terminal having a first calculation unit arranged to process payments in cash and a second calculation unit arranged to process payments in compensatory value from a non-financial credit accumulated by the user, the input unit ( 2 ) provided with selection means for indicating either a payment mode in cash or a payment mode in compensatory value and to produce a first control signal if the payment mode in cash is selected and a second control signal if the compensatory value mode is chosen, the third terminal also being arranged to receive the first and second control signals and to execute the payment under the control of the second control signal and to transmit the first and second data to the second terminal under the control of the first control signal.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a 371 of PCT/BE02/00120 filed Jul. 10, 2002, which claimsbenefit from European Application No. 01202693.6 filed Jul. 13, 2001 andEuropean Application No. 02100057.5 filed Jan. 24, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a payment device using a card with a magneticstrip or an electronic chip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cards with a magnetic strip or an electronic chip are known for carryingout various functions. Thus some cards fulfill a credit means functionwith various financial institutions or credit bodies, others a functionof means of debiting accounts of the holder of said card within suchinstitutions. Another type of card assumes a function of loyalty meansfor a client with a commercial store or chain, enabling the holder ofthe card to accumulate units of compensation value by means of which hecan acquire products distributed by the store or chain or benefit fromreductions on these products or promotional services offered by thisstore or chain to the holders of units of compensatory value.

Cards with a magnetic strip able to simultaneously fulfill variousfunctions also exist. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,608 describes a magneticstrip card system in which such a card can fulfill the functions ofprepaid debit card issued by a store or chain, a telephone card, aloyalty card and a medical information card. Such a system comprises aterminal for reading cards with a magnetic strip connected to amanagement unit of a banking institution and to a processing center. Theprocessing center comprises or is connected to a database for eachfunction of the card and manages the use of these various functions bythe user of the card. The store or chain issuing a prepaid debit cardcan recompense the holder for his purchases with units of compensatoryvalue managed by the database relating to the loyalty card function. Theissuing store or chain can also make it possible for the card issuedalso to be used as a telephone card, an instruction when the card isused then activating the database relating to the debit card ortelephone card function at the processing center. Alternatively, a cardaccording to the system in question may fulfill solely the loyalty cardfunction rather than debit card function. The units of compensatoryvalue capitalized by the database of the processing center relating tothe function in question can then be used for purchasing products fromthe issuing store or chain from the issuing manufacturer, in the lattercase from any store or chain distributing its products, once the numberof units of compensatory value capitalized has reached a predeterminedthreshold. These various functions can be combined.

The system according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,608 poses a problem offlexibility and versatility. This is because, firstly, when the debitcard function is fulfilled, it is necessary for the card to be prepaidand consequently linked to a specific account associated with theissuing store or chain or manufacturer. The user can therefore not usethe card described as a debit card or traditional credit card for makingpurchases in points of sale not linked to the issuing store or chain ormanufacturer. Moreover, there is no possibility for the user of the cardto determine himself at any time whether he wishes to make purchases incash or units of compensatory value capitalized in the database relatingto the loyalty card function, since these units of compensatory valuecan be used only once a given threshold is reached. Finally, each cardissued by a store or chain or manufacturer can function only in relationto the products of this store or chain or manufacturer. In particular,the units of compensatory value capitalized in the database of theprocessing center relating to the loyalty card function can be used onlyat the store or chain or distributors of the products of themanufacturer who have granted the said units of compensatory value tothe card user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a payment device including an input unit forreceiving first data taken from a medium and identifying a user who willproceed with a payment for a purchase. The input unit is arranged forconnection to a first terminal to be located at a point of sale, thefirst terminal having a data input for receiving second data concerningsaid purchase. The first terminal communicates the first and second datato a second terminal placed with a financial body which is responsiblefor making payment on behalf of the user. A third terminal is placed ata payment management center, the third terminal managing communicationbetween the first and second terminals, the third terminal having afirst calculation unit for processing payments in cash and a secondcalculation unit for processing payments in compensatory value from anon-financial credit accumulated by the user. The input unit is providedwith a selector to indicate either a payment mode in cash or a paymentmode in compensatory value and to produce a first control signal if thepayment mode in cash is selected and a second control signal if thecompensatory value mode is chosen. The third terminal also receives thefirst and second control signals and executes payment under control ofthe second control signal and transmits the first and second data to thesecond terminal under the control of the first control signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a payment device in accordance withaspects of the invention.

FIG. 2 a–2 c represent a flow diagram of payment processing inaccordance with aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention resolves various problems by providing a payment deviceusing a data medium, for example, a card with a magnetic strip orelectronic chip, in which one and the same card can be used as a debitcard and/or traditional credit card and, alternatively, as a loyaltycard, the last function being fulfilled so that units of compensatoryvalue capitalized with a store or chain can be used according to aprogram defined by the latter in its various points of sale but also,according to the same program or a different program, with other storesor chains which have made agreements with the first.

Consequently a payment device according to the invention comprises aninput unit arranged to receive first data taken from a medium andidentifying a user who will proceed with a payment for a purchase whichhe has made, the input unit being arranged to be connected to a firstterminal intended to be placed at a point of sale, this first terminalhaving a data input intended to receive second data concerning thepurchase, the first terminal being arranged to communicate the first andsecond data to a second terminal intended to be placed with a financialbody which will be responsible for making the payment on behalf of theuser, the device also comprising a third terminal intended to be placedat a payment management center, said third terminal being arranged tomanage the communication between the first and second terminals, thisthird terminal having a first calculation unit arranged to processpayments in cash and a second calculation unit arranged to processpayments in compensatory value from a non-financial credit accumulatedby the user, the input unit being provided with selection means forindicating either a payment mode in cash or a payment mode incompensatory value and to produce a first control signal if the paymentmode in cash is selected and a second control signal if the compensatoryvalue mode is chosen, the third terminal also being arranged to receivethe first and second control signals and to execute the payment underthe control of the second control signal and to transmit the first andsecond data to the second terminal under the control of the firstcontrol signal.

Such a device has several advantages. First of all, it allows thepayment for purchases by a traditional debit or credit function via anyfinancial body with which a second terminal is placed. Thus, fromagreements made between several financial credit or debit institutions,one and the same first data medium, for example, a card storing thesedata in a magnetic in a magnetic strip or an electronic chip, allowspayment via the debiting of various accounts opened with such financialinstitutions or via various credit bodies (such as Visa, MCC, etc.). Theclient therefore has available, through the same card, severalpossibilities of payment, and this at all points of sale accepting saidcard. Moreover, the input unit and the third terminal are arranged toallow a selection by the user between a payment in cash and a payment inunits of compensatory value, without the number of these having to reacha predetermined threshold in order to allow this type of payment. Inaddition, instead of units of compensatory value, the stores or chainscan grant units of credit in cash to their customers for loyaltypurposes, placed on account and managed by the device according to theinvention in accordance with the program which these stores or chainswill have defined. Finally, the second calculation unit arranged toprocess payments in compensatory value from a non-financial creditaccumulated by the user enables this credit to be used in various storesor chains according to programs, possibly of reciprocity, which theyhave established. Such programs also enable the stores or chains whichdesign them to manage in common advertising action intended for the cardholders according to the device constituting this invention.

A payment device according to the invention is preferably arranged sothat the third terminal comprises an input for receiving third datarelating to the management of the payments in compensatory value and amemory linked to said input and arranged to store the third data, thismemory being connected to the second calculation unit which is arrangedto perform said management on the basis of the third data.

This configuration enables the device to process third data relating tothe loyalty programs established by the various stores or chains usingsaid device. Thus, once the card user and the store or chain to which heis making a payment are identified on the basis of the first data, theloyalty program which falls to the user will be selected and the numberof units of compensatory value to which the payment entitles him andwhich he can have available to make this payment will be made availableto him. According to the agreements made between various stores orchains, the loyalty programs can be linked. The centralized managementof the units of compensatory value acquired are equivalent to that of abank account. With the same security procedures, the card user cantherefore not lose his units of compensatory value.

Preferably, the second calculation unit comprises a generator for unitsof compensatory value arranged to produce on the basis of the first andsecond data a non-financial credit amount and to account for it, thisgenerator being arranged to be neutralized under the control of thesecond control signal.

The neutralization of the compensatory value generator prevents units ofcompensatory value being generated whilst the third terminal is making apayment in such units and therefore is debiting the account with unitsof compensatory value which the card user has available at the store orchain for which the payment is intended.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first datacomprise a first field arranged so as to enter therein a firstidentification identifying an owner of the medium and a second fieldarranged to enter therein a second identification identifying a bodywith which the owner is associated, said selection means being arrangedto read said first data and to present to said user a choice between thefirst and second identification as well as to produce a third controlsignal indicating the choice for which the user has opted.

In this way, the same card holder can be identified as a private personor as an employee/associate of a corporation with which stores or chainshave made specific loyalty agreements and/or agreements on the selectionof lines of products/services whose purchase, possibly limited at acertain quantity or at a certain amount, can be made from a cash amountor units of compensatory value owned by said corporation. The paymentunder an employee/associate identification for certain types ofproducts/services with stores or chains which use the device accordingto the invention but which have not made agreements with regard to theselection of product lines with the corporation employing/associatingthe user of the card may also be authorized. In the case of the makingof the above-mentioned selection agreements, if the payment for aproduct/service not selected is made by means of the device according tothe invention whilst the identification as an employee/associate of thecorporation who made these agreements has been chosen, these paymentswill not be considered by the third terminal as business but as made ina private capacity. According to the identification selected by the userand in the previous case modified where applicable by the thirdterminal, it uses a loyalty program and/or a specific debit/credit line.The possibility of double private/business identification offered by thedevice according to the invention allows easy controlled management ofbusiness costs.

In order to be able to manage a different number of units ofcompensatory value when a loyalty program is implemented depending onwhether a payment is made to a store or chain as a private person or asan employee/associate of a corporation provision is made according to apreferred embodiment of the payment device according to the inventionfor the compensatory value generated to be arranged to receive the thirdcontrol signal and to produce the non-financial credit amount also onthe basis of the third control signal.

Preferably, the first data comprise a third field arranged to entertherein a third identification identifying at least one financial body,said selection means being arranged to read said third identificationand to present to said user a choice between the financial bodiesincluded in the third identification and to communicate the choice ofthe financial body to the third terminal.

The presence of a third field in the first data offers the advantage ofallowing recourse to several financial institutions by means of the samefirst-data medium.

According to another preferred embodiment of the device according to theinvention, the first terminal comprises a display unit and aninterrogation device connected together, the interrogation device beingarranged to interrogate the second calculation unit on the non-financialcredit associated with the first data and to transmit this non-financialcredit to the display unit, arranged to display the latter.

In this way, the user of the card as well as an employee at the point ofsale of the store or chain in which the said card is used can displaythe credit relating to units of compensatory value which the user hasavailable, according to the identification which he will have selected,which enables him to decide to make payment in cash or in units ofcompensatory value.

The information relating to the management of the accounts pertaining tounits of compensatory value and/or credit/debit lines used to makepayments by means of the device according to the invention can be storedwithin the third terminal and archived at a predetermined frequency(days, weeks, months). This information can serve in particular forestablishing invoicing on behalf of a store or chain.

FIG. 1 illustrates by way of non-limiting example a device according tothe invention comprising a medium for first data (1) consisting of acard with a magnetic strip, an input unit (2) for receiving the firstdata, consisting of a magnetic-strip card reader, the input unitcomprising means (3) of selecting a payment mode in cash or units ofcompensatory value, consisting of a keypad. The input unit (2) isconnected to a first terminal (4) placed in a point of sale, saidterminal having an input unit (5), consisting of a keypad, second datarelating to the purchase made, such as its price and the category of theservice or article in question; the terminal (4) also possessing adisplay unit (6) for the second data, consisting of a screen. The firstterminal (4) is arranged so as to communicate the first and second datato a second terminal (8) placed with a financial body which will makethe payment on behalf of the user of the magnetic-strip card.

The device comprises a third terminal (9) placed with a paymentmanagement center, this terminal being arranged to regulate thecommunication between the first (4) and second (8) terminals. This thirdterminal (9) comprises a first calculation unit (10) processing the cashpayments and a second calculation unit (11) for processing payments inunits of compensatory value. The third terminal (9) is also arranged toreceive a first control signal sent by the input unit (2) when a cashpayment is selected and a second control signal sent by the input unitwhen a payment in units of compensatory value is selected and to executethe payment under the control of the second terminal under the controlof the first control signal.

The third terminal (9) also comprises an input (12), a keypad forreceiving third data relating to the management of the payments in unitsof compensatory value as well as a memory (13) for storing the data,connected to said input (12) and to the second calculation unit (11)arranged to effect said management on the basis of the third data. Thesecond calculation unit (11) comprises a generator generating units ofcompensatory value (14) for producing on the basis of the first andsecond data a non-financial credit amount and to account for it, thisgenerator being able to be neutralized under the control of the secondcontrol signal.

The generator generating units of compensatory value (14) is designed toreceive a third control signal produced by the selection means (3)arranged to present to the user a choice between a first identificationof the magnetic-strip card holder and a second identification of a bodywith which the holder is associated, these identifications beingincluded in said first data, the third control signal being indicativeof the choice in question. The generator of units of compensatory value(14) produces the non-financial credit amount also on the basis of thethird control signal.

Various modes of functioning of the device according to the inventionwill now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, as well as thedetail of the processing of a transaction by the device in one of thefunctioning modes described:

Direct Connected Mode

In this functioning mode of the device according to the invention,various input units and first terminals are distributed through thevarious points of sale of the store or chain using the device. Theseunits are connected to a third terminal situated in a processing centerchosen by the store or chain, via the data processing network of thestore or chain.

The first data, relating to the identification of the card holder,possibly according to the choice as to private person oremployee/associate of a corporation which it will have made by virtue ofthe selection means provided in the input unit contained in a magneticstrip or an electronic chip carried by a card adapted to the deviceaccording to the invention, are read by an input unit.

The data read are communicated by a first terminal to the thirdterminal. The identification of the store or chain and of the merchantare also communicated so as to be able to select the various paymentmodes accepted by the store or chain or the merchant through the use ofthe card as well as the loyalty program defined. There can also inparticular be communicated to the third terminal data relating to thecard number, to its expiry date, to the codes of the types of articlemaking up the transaction, and to the credit in units of compensatoryvalue possibly granted in situ by the point of sale to the user. Thetotal amount of the transaction is in its turn communicated as well asthe choice of the payment in cash or in units of compensatory value andwhere applicable during a payment in cash the financial institution orcredit organization selected by the user by virtue of the means providedfor this purpose in the input unit.

According to the loyalty program defined by the store or chain, thethird terminal then proceeds with the capitalization both private andbusiness of the units of compensatory value granted to the user and thededuction of such credit units which he has available if they are usedas a payment means.

When the payment is to be made in cash by debiting a bank account, thedebit authorization request to the bank is sent by the third terminal tothe bank concerned or to a processing center for such requests approvedby said bank, which responds to the third terminal, which sends thisresponse to the point of sale in order to authorize or refuse thepayment. When the payment is to be made via a credit body, the thirdterminal routes the request to this body or an approved processingcenter or processes it directly in accordance with the rules applied bythe credit body or an agreement made between the operator of the thirdterminal and this body.

A concrete example of use of the device according to the invention inthe functioning mode described above concerns a user having anidentification as a private person and as an employee/associate of acorporation which authorizes him to make purchases of meals/drinks andlikewise fuel for business purposes in certain outlets or chains withwhich said corporation has made agreements, using to make the paymentfor such purchases an account held by this corporation. When the useruses a card functioning in the device according to the invention withone of the above mentioned chains with a view to acquiring for examplefuel, a meal and a magazine, the account of the company will be debitedby an amount relating to the fuel or meal but not to the magazine,which, not being included in the products whose purchase is authorizedfor business reasons, can be acquired only privately, by debiting aprivate account of the user, or by means of units of compensatory valuewhich he has acquired as a private person from this chain, according tothe loyalty program established, or even as an employee/associate of thecorporation, if the latter has permitted the use of the units ofcompensatory values credited during business purchases for makingpurchases of the private type.

Mode Connected on Call, Through Telephone Lines, to the Third Terminal

The processing will be identical to the connected mode detailed aboveapart from the fact that each transaction will require a call to theprocessing center where the third terminal according to the invention issituated. The speed of the communication will consequently be reducedand said processing center will have to have sufficient cascade heads todeal with the number of calls which it will receive.

Degraded Mode, with Local Processing of the Transaction

In the event of a break in communication between the point of sale andthe third terminal, the transactions will be processed in so-called“degraded” mode, that is to say by applying the rules defined at thepoint of sale itself, in accordance with the parameters which it willhave available at this moment. The consolidation with all the othertransactions will take place as soon as the point of sale is once againin a position to function in connected mode.

Processing of a Transaction in Direct Connected Mode:

The various steps of the processing, whose sequence is illustrated bythe flow diagram in FIGS. 2 a–2 c, are as follows:

The various steps of the processing, whose sequence is illustrated bythe flow diagram in FIGS. 2 a–2 c, are as follows:

-   1/ Communication of the amount to be paid to the first terminal via    the input unit.-   2/ Reading of the first data on their medium carried by the card by    the user by the input unit.-   3/ Verification of the length of the identification code of the card    read, which determines whether it is a national or foreign card.    According to circumstances, the authorized limit for making a    payment without prior bank verification of the balance of the    account to be debited is different, no payment being able where    applicable to be made without prior verification in the case of a    foreign card. In the latter case, go to paragraph 17/.-   4/ Verification on the basis in particular of the card    identification whether this is falsified. In this case, go to    paragraph 17/.-   5/ Verification of the card validity date. If it is exceeded, go to    paragraph 17/.-   6/ Encrypting of the first data and identification of the store or    chain of the point of sale and where applicable of the latter.-   7/ Introduction into the encrypted data of an interrogation of the    third terminal with regard to the balance of the account of the user    in units of compensatory value, where applicable according to the    identification of said user as a private person or    employee/associate of a corporation, so that the user can decide to    use all or some of these units to make all or part of the payment.    It should be noted that the device according to the invention makes    it possible, in the case payments via an input unit situated outside    a point of sale (for example close to fuel pumps in a service    station) for this payment to give rise to the immediate generation    of the units of compensatory value to which it gives entitlement,    which may be themselves used to make said payment.-   8/ Decrypting by the third terminal of the encrypted data    communicated to it.-   9/ Encrypting by the third terminal of the communication to the    point of sale of the balance of the account of the user in units of    compensatory value.-   10/ Decrypting by the first terminal of the balance of units of    compensatory value available as a payment mode at the point of sale.-   11/ Encrypting by the first terminal of the second data relating to    the transaction, namely transaction number, transaction amount,    payment mode or modes used, number of units of compensatory value    where applicable used to make all or part of the payment, product    lines/services making up the transaction, for the purpose of    acceptance of the purchase for business or private purposes of the    products/services concerned, according to any selection agreements    made between the store or chain to which the point of sale relates    and the company which the user comes under as an employee/associate,    payment mode or modes used.-   12/ Communication of the encrypted data relating to the transaction    to the third terminal.-   13/ Decrypting of the data relating to the transaction by the third    terminal.-   14/ Determination by the third terminal of the sender of the card by    means of the BIN table.-   15/ Verification that the card is not included in the opposition    list communicated to the third terminal by a financial institution    or a credit body to which the card makes it possible to have    recourse.-   16/ In the event of opposition, the transaction will be refused.-   17/ If paragraph 16/, an encrypted refusal message is communicated    to the point of sale by the third terminal.-   18/ If the transaction concerns only products/services acquired by    the user as an employee/associate of a corporation, then    verification of the available balance of the business debit/credit    line allocated to the user for the store or chain concerned and/or    the debit credit line granted to the company for the said store or    chain.

Thus the device according to the invention makes it possible easily tomanage business expenditure made by an employee/associate oremployees/associates of a corporation by virtue of agreements concludedbetween this company and stores or chains distributing products/servicesthe purchase of which is authorized for business purposes and thedefinition for each of the said stores or chains of a credit line forthis professional expenditure, either individual for a givenemployee/associate or collective for all the employees/associates of thecorporation. In the event of this credit being exceeded, the payment mayno longer be made by debiting an account held by the corporation butonly an account of which the user is the holder as a private person. Thetransmission to the third terminal of the identification of the point ofsale relating to a store or chain with which such agreements have beenconcluded also makes it possible for the purchases made at this point ofsale by the user to be automatically considered to be business ones.

-   19/ If the amount of said transaction is less than said available    balance, authorization issued by the third terminal and business    account is updated.-   20/ If the transaction concerns products/services acquired by the    user as a private person, verification by the third terminal of the    daily ceiling authorized to a user for making a payment without    prior authorization from the financial institution or credit body    chosen, applicable to the point of sale concerned, in accordance    with the agreements made between said point of sale, the store or    chain and the financial institution or credit body in question. This    is because, according to the location of the point of sale and the    type of product/service which it offers, this ceiling may vary,    having regard to the risk of fraud relating to said location and    type of product/service.-   21/ In the case of an amount greater than said daily ceiling, then    paragraphs 16/ and 17/.-   22/ According to the agreements, the acceptance of a forcing may be    tolerated or not, depending on rules to be defined. For example,    such a forcing may be envisaged in the event of rupture of computer    or telephone communications between the point of sale and the third    terminal.-   23/ In the case of exceeding said ceiling, or when no ceiling has    been defined, for example when the payment is made abroad, request    for authorization of payment to the financial institution or credit    body is chosen by the user to make said payment.-   24/ Receipt of the agreement from the financial institution or    credit body mentioned above.-   25/ If refusal, then paragraphs 16/, 17/.-   26/ If acceptance, then updating of the daily total of the user by    the third terminal.-   27/ Verification that the point of sale is participating in the    loyalty program defined by its store or chain.-   28/ Updating of the card loyalty account, according to the number of    units of compensatory value where applicable credited and/or debited    during the transaction, namely either an account common to the    stores or chains sharing the same loyalty program or the account of    the store or chain to which the point of sale at which the    transaction was made relates.-   29/ Encrypting the data communicated to the point of sale, namely    point of sale number, transaction number, amount granted    business-wise or privately according to the case, payment    authorization number, number of units of compensatory value with    which where applicable the user has been credited or debited during    the transaction, date and time of the transaction.-   30/ Decrypting of said data by the first terminal of the point of    sale.-   31/ End of transaction for the point of sale.

What is claimed is:
 1. A payment device comprising an input unit forreceiving first data taken from a medium and identifying a user who willproceed with a payment for a purchase, said input unit arranged forconnection to a first terminal to be located at a point of sale, saidfirst terminal having a data input for receiving second data concerningsaid purchase, said first terminal communicating the first and seconddata to a second terminal placed with a financial body which isresponsible for making payment on behalf of the user, a third terminalplaced at a payment management center, said third terminal managingcommunication between the first and second terminals, said thirdterminal having a first calculation unit for processing payments in cashand a second calculation unit for processing payments in compensatoryvalue from a non-financial credit accumulated by the user, said inputunit being provided with a selector to indicate either a payment mode incash or a payment mode in compensatory value and to produce a firstcontrol signal if the payment mode in cash is selected and a secondcontrol signal if the compensatory value mode is chosen, said thirdterminal also receiving the first and second control signals andexecuting payment under control of the second control signal and totransmit the first and second data to the second terminal under thecontrol of the first control signal.
 2. The payment device of claim 1,wherein said third terminal comprises an input for receiving third datarelating to management of the payments in compensatory value and amemory linked to said input and arranged to store the third data, saidmemory connected to said second calculation unit performs saidprocessing on the basis of the third data.
 3. The payment device ofclaim 1 or 2, wherein said second calculation unit comprises a generatorfor units of compensatory value arranged to produce on a basis of thefirst and second data a non-financial credit amount and to account forthe non-financial credit, said generator of compensatory value beingneutralized under a control of said second control signal.
 4. Thepayment device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said first data comprise a firstfield arranged so as to enter therein a first identification identifyingan owner of the medium and a second field arranged to enter therein asecond identification identifying a body with which the owner isassociated, said selector reading said first data and present to saiduser a choice between the first and second identification and to producea third control signal indicating the choice for which the user hasopted.
 5. The payment device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said secondcalculation unit comprises a generator for units of compensatory valuearranged to produce on a basis of the first and second data anon-financial credit amount and to account for the non-financial credit,said generator of compensatory value being neutralized under a controlof said second control signal and wherein said first data comprise afirst field to enter therein a first identification identifying an ownerof the medium and a second field to enter therein a secondidentification identifying a body with which the owner is associated,said selector reading said first data and present to said user a choicebetween the first and second identification and to produce a thirdcontrol signal indicating the choice for which the user has opted andwherein said compensatory value generator receives said third controlsignal and produces said non-financial credit amount also on the basisof said third control signal.
 6. The payment device of claim 1 or 2,wherein said first data comprise a third field arranged to enter thereina third identification identifying at least one financial body, saidselector reading said third identification and presenting to said user achoice between financial bodies included in said third identificationand communicating the choice of the financial body to said thirdterminal.
 7. The payment device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said firstterminal comprises a display unit and an interrogation device connectedtogether, said interrogation device interrogating said secondcalculation unit on said non-financial credit associated with the firstdata and transmitting the non-financial credit to the display unit todisplay said non-financial credit.